Fayetteville, N.C. — City officials announced Wednesday that Interim Police Chief Tom Bergamine will have the “interim” removed from his title and become the 365-officer department’s leader permanently.

Bergamine, whose 29-year police career has been with the Fayetteville department, met all the criteria the city had for its new top cop, City Manager Dale Inman said in announcing Bergamine’s appointment.

“I’ll work my hardest not to let anybody down. I’ll give it my best shot. I grew up here as a professional,” Bergamine said in the Bronx accent that belies his decades in Fayetteville. “I love the police department. I love this city. I love the citizens.”

Working with a consultant, the city had set out its most important considerations, and all involved continuity from work that Chief Tom McCarthy was doing before his retirement in February.

“Tom has instant credibility in this city,” Inman said of Bergamine. “From my years of working with law-enforcement professionals, credibility is one of the most important assets of any chief.”

“Thank you for allowing me the chance to lead this excellent force of men and women who work so hard every day on behalf of all the citizens of Fayetteville,” Bergamine said in a statement.

Bergamine joined the Fayetteville force as a patrolman in 1978 and began movingup through the ranks. He was assistant chief in charge of patrol operations when he was named interim chief when McCarthy left the job. Bergamine served as an Army military policeman before joining the Fayetteville department.

nc_copper1993Apr 12, 2007

THIN BLUE LINEApr 11, 2007

It does not matter if you hire from within or if you go with an outside pick as long as you hire someone who will stand on his/her OWN TWO FEET!

gjp032Apr 11, 2007

I agree that hiring within is good sometimes, but for the city of Raleigh Police Department I disagree.The city of Raleigh is growing at such a rapid rate I think some of the "higher ups" at the Raleigh Police Department still think its the quite little town they used to patrol; IT ISN'T!We need a progressive thinker, someone who isn't afraid to let their people do agressive police work and not worry about what WRAL or the News and Observer has to say.In this persons opinion hiring from outside for the Raleigh Police Department is the right thing to do!!

thugsnightmareApr 11, 2007

Good news finally!!!!!!!!!!Great cop!!!!!!!!

sick of YouApr 11, 2007

Lock em' all up!

PantherApr 11, 2007

It's about time! I cannot think of a better selection than Chief Bergamine!

rpdwife05Apr 11, 2007

I agree. I think Raleigh PD should do the same thing Fay PD did and hire their interim, and NOT bring down any more people from NY to do the job.

neptunescourtApr 11, 2007

Hopefully the City of Raleigh will realize there is the experience within their own department when they hire a new Chief.

Firefox 384Apr 11, 2007

Congrats to Chief Bergamine. Great pick and great cop. He will continue to lead Fay PD in to the next decade.